A loyal companion and so much more

People have tremendous love for their four-legged family members, yet millions struggle to care for their pets due to a lack of access to pet care. No one should be denied the opportunity to own a pet. That's why we launched the More Than a Pet campaign.

Video Details
What does your pet mean to you?

Grammy-winning musician Mýa shares what her dogs Tango, Jemma and Jax and her cat Journey mean to her. Now it's your turn. For every photo shared, a bowl of food will be donated to pets in underserved communities. Share your story.

A national crisis

Millions of loving pet owners can’t access the veterinary services and resources they need to provide for their pets. Equitable access to care includes identifying and removing all the barriers someone may face in obtaining pet care and resources, with factors as complex and varied as transportation, language, time, finances and trust. This isn’t a new problem, but it has become an overlooked national crisis.

Sweet dog looking at the camera
20M+
PETS LIVE IN POVERTY

and that's three times more than the number who enter animal shelters every year.

Person holding a grey rabbit
70%
OF PETS

living in poverty have never seen a veterinarian.

Veterinarian examining a black and white cat
28%
OF PET OWNERS

are unable to access veterinary care.

A fair shake at pet ownership

Most people are aware of how poverty and structural inequality create challenges and barriers to accessing healthy food, education, jobs, health care and housing. Pet resources are no different. There are many communities that can’t access the veterinary care and resources they need to provide for their pets, but we believe everyone should be able to experience the joy, comfort and benefits of the human-animal bond. Regardless of race, ethnicity, geography or socioeconomic status, people and pets alike deserve a chance to be healthy and happy.

Help keep people and pets together. Sign the Petition

Share what your pet means to you

For every photo shared, a bowl of food will be donated to pets in underserved communities. Help ensure people and pets stay together.

Man holding his grey cat
Nicole Rosenberg

Together, we can make a difference

"I am so grateful for Pets for Life. I don't know what I'd do without them," says Janis from Idaho.

Learn more about how Pets for Life changes lives!

Through our programs such as Pets for Life and Rural Area Veterinary Services, we have been supporting hundreds of thousands of people and pets who do not have access to veterinary care and pet essentials for more than a decade. And through our DEI priority initiative, we aim to build upon that work to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the veterinary profession and the broader animal welfare field.

Since 2002, we’ve served more than 500,000 pets and their families living in poverty with veterinary services such as spay/neuter and vaccinations at no cost to the pet’s family. We’ve also donated more than $40 million worth of pet supplies, including 14 million pounds of pet food.

More Than a Pet Partners

A special thanks to the partners who are supporting the More Than a Pet campaign.

Learn More

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